Chawan

This wheel-thrown tea bowl was made from fine Japanese porcelain clay and wood fired for four days in a traditional kiln. Wood firing is an intense and unpredictable process.  Flames, ash, and heat move through the kiln and leave natural marks on the clay. Over the course of the firing, ash settles on the surface and melts into a natural glaze, giving each piece a unique character that cannot be replicated.

This bowl developed beautiful copper-red streaks along with small crystalline formations that emerged during the firing. The subtle movement of these surfaces contrasts nicely with the soft quality of the porcelain body.

The form retains gentle throwing lines that reveal the hand of the maker and celebrate the quiet beauty of the process.

Width: 13 cm
Height: 8.5 cm